It might even be from a _new_ mainframe db

create function dbo.fnGetNextRecNo(@company xx, @customer xx, @glperiod xx, @transaction)

returns smallint

as

    begin

        declare @NewRecNo smallint, @recno int

        select @recno =max(recno) + 1

        from _B

        where company = @company

           and customer = @customer

           and glperiod = @glperiod

           and transaction = @transaction

         

        set @NewRecNo = isnull(@RecNo , 1) -- ?? where do you want to start today

       

        if @NewRecNo < (-32768)  or @NewRecNo > 32767

        begin

              -- Now what ??? 

              set @NewRecNo = (-32768)

        end

        return @NewRecNo

    end

go

-- grant when needed

insert into _B (col_list)

select company,customer,glperiod,transaction, dbo.fnGetNextRecNo(company,customer,glperiod,transaction),...

from _A